Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for October 12, 2010:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Mass limits of dark matter derived from 'strange' stars- Living under a flight path increases heart attack risk
- Cracks in the Universe: Physicists are searching for the fingerprints of cosmic strings
- Baby born from embryo frozen almost 20 years ago
- Scientists discover how dengue virus infects cells
- Size matters in crucial redox reactions
- Genomic comparison of ocean microbes reveals East-West divide in populations
- Project will map googols of brain circuits
- Google, Marubeni to develop underwater power cables off US
- Giant offshore windfarm opens in Denmark
- Microorganisms offer lessons for gamblers and the rest of us
- Tuberculosis protects itself against toxic agents sent to destroy it
- Fast and user friendly, nanoDESI shows off its ability to transfer fragile molecules
- Apple in talks to launch CDMA iPhone in India: report
- Looking back key to moving forward
Space & Earth news
Marcellus shale needs scientific study to set guidelines
The Academy of Natural Sciences is calling for a comprehensive research plan that would result in guidelines and an assessment tool for regulators and managers in order to minimize the environmental impact of Marcellus Shale gas drilling.
Researcher's new book reveals environmental history of New York
A new book reveals the environmental history of New York state, including lessons learned from environmental disasters, triumphs in conservation efforts and balancing tourism with preserving natural wonders. The book also reveals the state's environmental threats that remain today. David Stradling, a University of Cincinnati professor of history, will be visiting New York this month as a featured author for his new book, "The Nature of New York – An Environmental History of the Empire State," published by Cornell University Press. The book holds an eight-page color insert and maps.
High nitrate concentrations in U.S. Rockies' high elevation lakes caused by melting glaciers
Melting glaciers in the American West are releasing chemicals that cause ecosystem changes in alpine lakes, including large quantities of nitrogen that reduces biodiversity, according to an international research team led by University of Maine paleoecologist Jasmine Saros.
Menominee County shakeup was an earthquake, says researcher
That shaking and loud noise experienced recently in Menominee County of Upper Michigan was indeed an earthquake, albeit a small one, according to a Michigan Tech researcher.
Device reveals more about Mars' atmosphere
Instruments designed by a UT Dallas professor to measure atmospheric components on the surface of Mars have uncovered important clues about the planet’s atmosphere and climate history.
Percolating a solution to hexavalent chromium
The metal chromium is an essential nutrient for plant and animal metabolism, but it can accumulate to toxic and hazardous levels in the environment when discharged in industrial waste water; a point made infamous by the movie Erin Brockovich.
Smithsonian reports regional sea temperature rise and coral bleaching event in Western Caribbean
The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute's Bocas del Toro Research Station and Galeta Point Marine Laboratory are reporting an anomalous sea temperature rise and a major coral bleaching event in the western Caribbean. Although the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, issued an advisory in July announcing above-average sea surface temperatures in the wider Caribbean region, there had been no clear indication of increased sea temperatures in Panama and the western Caribbean until late August-early September.
Small asteroid to pass within Earth-Moon system Tuesday
(PhysOrg.com) -- A small asteroid will fly past Earth early Tuesday within the Earth-moon system. The asteroid, 2010 TD54, will have its closest approach to Earth's surface at an altitude of about 45,000 kilometers (27,960 miles) at 6:50 EDT a.m. (3:50 a.m. PDT).
Coral records show ocean thermocline rise with global warming
(PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers looking at corals in the western tropical Pacific Ocean have found records linking a profound shift in the depth of the division between warm surface water and colder, deeper water traceable to recent global warming.
Ancient animal urine provides insight into climate change
(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists at the University of Leicester are using an unusual resource to investigate ancient climates– prehistoric animal urine.
'Teenage'-galaxies booming with star births
Scientists from the Niels Bohr Institute have been studying distant galaxies, which are among the most active star-forming galaxies in the Universe. They form around 1,000 new stars a year – a 1,000 times more than our own galaxy, the Milky Way. The findings have been published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
Giant star goes supernova -- and is smothered by its own dust
A giant star in a faraway galaxy recently ended its life with a dust-shrouded whimper instead of the more typical bang.
Student dust counter breaks distance record on New Horizons mission to Pluto
A University of Colorado at Boulder space dust counter designed, tested and operated by students that is flying aboard NASA's New Horizons mission to Pluto now holds the record for the most distant working dust detector ever to travel through space.
Technology news
HP's new CEO to start job in a courtroom
(AP) -- Hewlett-Packard Co.'s new CEO will start his job in a courtroom - and in the crosshairs of HP's new antagonist, Oracle Corp.
Unit of China's Alibaba to launch search engine
A unit of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group said Tuesday it had launched a search engine, in an apparent effort to capitalise on Google's shrinking market share in China.
Measurement scientists set a new standard in 3-D ears
Scientists at the UK's National Physical Laboratory (NPL) have developed a means of representing a 3D model ear, to help redefine the standard for a pinna simulator (the pinna is the outer part of the ear) – used to measure sound in the way we perceive it.
Birth registration using mobile phones advances civil rights in developing countries
CMI's GooB initiative (Governance out of a box – population registration in Liberia) is developing a system of mobile phone-based birth registration in Liberia. Registration of birth is a prerequisite for the fulfilment of numerous civil rights. In a country with rough, difficult-to-cross terrain and weak governance structures, registering a birth is often a challenge for both the parents of the child and the public sector.
sonRAIL -- computer model to calculate noise levels along the Swiss rail network
Goods trains move at night because during daytime the Swiss rail system is used to full capacity by passenger traffic. Unfortunately, it is goods trains which make the most noise – and they operate at exactly the time when most people want to sleep. If the policy of shifting goods transport from the roads to the rail network is to succeed, then goods trains must be made significantly quieter.
India extends BlackBerry access deadline
India has given BlackBerry maker Research In Motion (RIM) an extended deadline of January 31 to provide its intelligence agencies a way of accessing all its services, a report said Tuesday.
Australia PM backs controversial Web filter
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard Tuesday renewed her backing for a controversial Internet filter, saying it was driven by a "moral question".
Microsoft launches Windows Phone 7 platform in Asia
Microsoft on Tuesday launched its new mobile phone operating platform in key Asia-Pacific countries as part of a campaign to catch up with rivals in the lucrative smartphone market.
The power of planar: Flat sodium-nickel chloride battery could improve performance, cost of energy storage
A redesign of sodium-nickel chloride batteries promises to overcome some of the obstacles long associated with rechargeable batteries.
Google eyes online consumer index to track inflation
US Internet titan Google is readying its own "Google Price Index" based on a vast database of online purchases, providing a daily measure of inflation, said a top company official quoted Tuesday in the Financial Times.
Driver drowsiness detected by Eyetracker
Car drivers must be able to react quickly to hazards on the road at all times. Dashboard-mounted cameras help keep drivers alert. At the VISION trade fair in Stuttgart, Germany, researchers are presenting this system from November 9-11, 2010.
Amazon seeks short works for 'Kindle Singles'
Amazon called on writers and publishers on Tuesday to submit short works to a new section of the US online retail giant's electronic bookstore called "Kindle Singles."
Swedish Pirate Bay prosecutor reiterates jail request
The prosecutor in the appeals trial of three founders and a financier of Swedish filesharing site The Pirate Bay requested Tuesday that their lower court sentences of a year each in prison be confirmed.
Location indoors
One of the more interesting technology demos at Nokia World covered indoor navigation.
WUSTL's Living Learning Center shares the world's first full 'Living Building' certification
The call came in to Kevin G. Smith, PhD, associate director of the Tyson Research Center at Washington University in St. Louis, from Jason McLennan, CEO of the International Living Building Institute (ILBI).
High hopes for iPad push Apple shares near $300
(AP) -- Apple Inc.'s stock flirted with $300 Tuesday as investors high on the iPad's promise pushed shares to a record peak. Analysts see few reasons to believe shares will stop there.
Half-year record for US online ad revenue: IAB
US online advertising revenue rose 11.3 percent during the first six months of the year to 12.1 billion dollars to set a half-year record, the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) said Tuesday.
Wind could provide 20 pct of world power by 2030: study
Wind power could meet about a fifth of the world's electricity demand within 20 years, an industry group and environmental watchdog Greenpeace predicted in a new report released on Tuesday.
Method to identify people by their ears developed
(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists from the University of Southampton have developed a new technique to identify people by their ears.
Giant offshore windfarm opens in Denmark
One of the world's biggest offshore wind farms opened Tuesday in southeastern Denmark, its operator, German power giant E.ON, said.
Google, Marubeni to develop underwater power cables off US
Google and Japanese investment firm Marubeni will invest in the development of undersea power cables off the US Atlantic coast to deliver electricity from offshore wind, the companies said Tuesday.
Apple in talks to launch CDMA iPhone in India: report
Apple is in talks with two Indian telecom operators about launching a CDMA version of the iPhone in India, one of the world's fastest-growing mobile markets, The Wall Street Journal said Tuesday.
Intel's net leaps 59 pct, shares rise
(AP) -- Intel Corp.'s third-quarter results showed Wall Street something that many anxious investors were itching to see: a sign that economic edginess hasn't ruined consumers' appetite for new PCs as much as originally feared going into the critical holiday shopping season.
Medicine & Health news
New osteoporosis guidelines: Osteoporosis Canada
Comprehensive new guidelines from the Osteoporosis Canada aimed at preventing fragility fractures in women and men over the age of 50 are published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Malnutrition increases risk of prolonged hospital stay
Hospital patients admitted with malnutrition or who don't eat for several days are at greater risk of a prolonged hospital stay, according to a study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
IOF campaign puts spotlight on vastly under-diagnosed and under-treated spinal fractures
At a press conference held in Brussels today, the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF), the Belgian Bone Club and the European Parliament Osteoporosis Interest Group called on health care professionals and health policy officials in Europe to take action to prevent spinal fractures. The call to action was made at the launch of a unique photographic essay, 'snap! the breaking spine', leading up to World Osteoporosis Day on October 20, 2010.
Smoking linked to binge drinking and unhealthy eating
Smokers are more likely than those who have never smoked to report engaging in poor lifestyle choices, including drinking above the guidelines and binge drinking as well as not eating the recommended amounts of fruit and vegetables, according to a new Cardiff University study out today.
Depression not so clear cut for teens
Teenagers think mental illness carries much more stigma than it actually does, according to new research from The Australian National University.
So that's why we're allergic to sun creams
What happens to sunscreens when they are exposed to sunlight? And how is the skin affected by the degradation products that form? This has been the subject of research at the University of Gothenburg and Chalmers University of Technology that will be presented at the upcoming dermatologist conference in Gothenburg.
New discovery on the causes of contact allergy
The fragrances used in many household and skincare products can cause contact allergy when exposed to oxygen in the air, reveals research from the University of Gothenburg's Faculty of Science in conjunction with the University of Gothenburg to be presented at the dermatologist conference in Gothenburg.
Struggling for breath: Videogame technology documents abnormal breathing patterns
Patients with a common chest deformity known as sunken chest exhibit dysfunctional chest wall motion, a finding that may explain routine reports of exercise intolerance pectus patients, according to a study presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in San Francisco.
Budget constraints limit FDA inspections
Budgetary constraints are one of the principal factors that limit the US Food & Drug Administration's ability to conduct frequent and rigorous site inspections of pharmaceutical manufacturers, according to research published in the International Journal of Business Continuity and Risk Management.
High response rates seen in phase-III trial of chemotherapy, new drug and stem cells in myeloma
The first study of its kind comparing two different approaches to treating newly diagnosed multiple myeloma has found that both treatments achieved a positive response, researchers said at the 35th Congress of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) in Milan, Italy.
Long-lasting mechanical heart implanted for the first time in Canada in heart-failure patient
In a Canadian first, the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre used a new kind of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) to treat a patient with advanced heart failure. The new device is longer lasting than older generation LVADs and may eliminate the need for a second LVAD – a major drawback with the old technology.
Most Italian breast cancer patients older and diagnosed very early
A study of breast cancer in Italian women has found that more than 70% of those affected by the disease are over the age of 50 years, and the disease is identified before it has spread to the lymph nodes in more than 60% of cases.
Traditional health practices popular among older people who choose not to have flu vaccine
Eating steamed pears, having a soothing massage or bathing in a herbal mixture are just some of indigenous health practices used by older people to ward off or treat influenza, according to research published in the October issue of the Journal of Advanced Nursing.
Study finds breast-feeding safe for women after breast cancer treatment
Women who have survived breast cancer should not be denied the opportunity to breast-feed their children, say researchers who presented the results of a new study at the 35th Congress of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) in Milan, Italy.
NFL players with concussions now sidelined longer
NFL players with concussions now stay away from the game significantly longer than they did in the late 1990s and early 2000s, according to research in Sports Health. The mean days lost with concussion increased from 1.92 days during 1996-2001 to 4.73 days during 2002-2007.
Personal genetic profiling services lack evidence for claims
Direct-to-consumer personal genetic profiling services that claim to predict people's health risks by analysing their DNA are often inconclusive and companies that sell them should provide better information about the evidence on which the results are based, says the UK Nuffield Council on Bioethics, in a new report on the ethics of so-called personalised healthcare services.
Prolonging first-line chemotherapy improves outcomes for patients with metastatic breast cancer
Contrary to what many oncologists believe, patients with metastatic breast cancer live longer on average if their chemotherapy is continued after their cancer is brought under control, a new meta-analysis shows.
Cetuximab did not add significant benefit to NORDIC FLOX regimen in first line treatment of mCRC
Adding the targeted drug cetuximab to a three-drug chemotherapy regimen for first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer does not improve response rate, progression-free survival or overall survival, researchers reported at the 35th Congress of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) in Milan, Italy.
Adding cetuximab to chemotherapy doubles response rate in hard-to-treat breast cancer
European researchers have proven for the first time that targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor can provide substantial clinical benefit for women with hard-to-treat triple-negative breast cancer.
ACP says subspecialist 'neighbors' vital part of patient centered medical home
(Washington) In order to realize the full potential of the Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) model of patient care to improve coordination and integration, the cooperation of subspecialist physicians and other health care professionals must be ensured, says a new policy paper from the American College of Physicians (ACP).
Phase III study shows everolimus delays tumor progression in hard-to-treat neuroendocrine tumors
The results of a large Phase-III clinical trial have shown that the drug everolimus delays tumor progression in patients with a hard-to-treat group of rare cancers that affect particular hormone-producing cells.
Sexual issues a major concern for cancer patients taking new targeted drugs
New drugs that target specific molecular mechanisms of cancer have improved the treatment of cancer patients in recent years, but those benefits may come with a cost to the patient's sex life, researchers have found.
Medical researchers break down costs to care for heart failure patients at the end of life
As the population ages, health care epidemiologist Padma Kaul and cardiologist Paul Armstrong, researchers in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry at the University of Alberta, want health-care professionals to talk to their patients about their options on places to die, whether it be at home, in hospital or a palliative care facility like hospice.
Fertility concerns of cancer survivors inadequately addressed, study finds
Many cancer survivors experience changes in sexual function that leave them feeling guilty and a longing for intimacy, Australian researchers told at the 35th Congress of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) in Milan, Italy. The researchers say that these sexuality and fertility concerns are often not adequately addressed by doctors.
Abiraterone acetate improves survival in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer
Patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer who have progressed after chemotherapy live significantly longer if treated with the drug abiraterone acetate compared to placebo, the results of a large Phase-III clinical trial confirm.
Afatinib benefits lung cancer patients whose cancer progressed after treatment with EGFR inhibitors
Lung cancer patients who have already been treated with the EGFR inhibitors erlotinib or gefitinib seem to gain further benefits in terms of progression-free survival and tumor shrinkage when treated with the new drug afatinib, the results of a Phase IIb/III trial show.
Court won't stop hormone replacement lawsuits
(AP) -- The Supreme Court won't reconsider a decision to reinstate more than 100 lawsuits filed by women who claimed that hormone replacement therapy caused breast cancer.
Halloween treats okay with a few tricks of the trade
For many adults and children, the idea of Halloween without candy is a frightening one. But Kate Yerxa of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension says there are several ways to both limit the amount of post-Halloween candy sitting around the house and also cut down on consumption while still celebrating the tradition of holiday treats.
School cafeterias to try psychology in lunch line
(AP) -- Federal officials are turning to psychology in a new approach to get kids to choose healthier foods in the school lunch line.
National committee releases findings on transforming and improving the nursing profession
Still hampered by workforce shortages and barriers that impede their ranks from delivering health care to the full extent of their education and training, nurses may have gotten the much-needed shot in the arm they need to transform their profession with the release of an Institute of Medicine (IOM) report recommending sweeping changes for improving their profession.
Economic advantage to pediatric ondansetron administration in emergency departments
In research published this week in PLoS Medicine, Stephen Freedman (University of Toronto) and colleagues performed a cost analysis of the emergency department administration of oral ondansetron to children with dehydration and vomiting secondary to gastroenteritis and found that this treatment could provide substantial economic, as well as clinical, benefit.
Metabolic status before pregnancy predicts subsequent gestational diabetes
Cardio-metabolic risk factors such as high blood sugar and insulin, and low high density lipoprotein cholesterol that are present before pregnancy, predict whether a woman will develop diabetes during a future pregnancy, according to a Kaiser Permanente study in the current issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology.
Estrogen therapy may be associated with kidney stones in postmenopausal women
Use of estrogen therapy is associated with an increased risk of developing kidney stones in postmenopausal women, according to a report in the October 11 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Adding topotecan to standard treatment for ovarian cancer does not improve progression-free survival
Adding topotecan to carboplatin plus paclitaxel, the standard treatment for ovarian cancer, does not improve progression-free survival in patients and leads to greater toxicity, according to a study published online October 11 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Breast-healthy lifestyle worthwhile, study confirms
Having a family history of breast cancer can lead some people to wonder if their risk is out of their control. However, a study of more than 85,000 postmenopausal women observed that regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking less alcohol lowers breast cancer risk for women with, and without a family history of the disease.
Megacities present global health hurdle: experts
Health issues facing so-called "megacities" like Tokyo, Mumbai or New York are poised to become a huge challenge for global policy as the cities grow, experts at the World Health Summit said.
Men dying of prostate cancer referred too late to hospice care, study finds
More than half of men dying of prostate cancer use hospice care — a significant increase over the last two decades — but most wait too long to enroll and can't take full advantage of the palliative care that could make their deaths easier, a study by researchers at UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center has found.
Peer-based outreach services for sex workers assist entry into detox and drug treatment
A mobile outreach program staffed by current and former sex workers is associated with increased entry to detoxification and residential drug treatment among women in street-based sex work, according to an evaluation led by the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE) and the University of British Columbia (UBC).
New antibiotic for hospital superbug looks promising
A new class of antibiotic specifically designed to target the hospital superbug Clostridium difficile has proved to be more effective than current treatments in preclinical studies.
New hope for those suffering from bone cancer
Children and young people who are diagnosed with bone cancer could benefit from better treatment in the future thanks to new research at The University of Nottingham.
Iniparib extends overall survival in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer
Women with an aggressive subtype of metastatic breast cancer appear to live an average of almost five months longer when treated with iniparib plus chemotherapy, compared to chemotherapy alone, the results of a randomized Phase-II trial show.
New clues on how cancer spreads
Researchers have dramatically advanced medicine's understanding of how cancer migrates, showing that cancer cells are accompanied by growth-enabling stromal cells when they travel in the bloodstream to new sites in the body.
Justices weigh lawsuits over vaccine side effects (Update)
(AP) -- The Supreme Court is trying to sort out whether drug companies can be sued for claims of serious side effects from childhood vaccines without driving vaccine makers from the market and risking a public health crisis.
Teens still smoking despite cigarette sales ban, UK study shows
Researchers at the University of Liverpool have found that banning under-18s from buying cigarettes has had little impact on young people's access to tobacco and large numbers buy cigarettes via strangers.
Georgia Tech mobile phone game trains players to make healthier diet selections
With Halloween and the holiday season fast approaching, many people will be watching their waistlines as they're tempted by a cornucopia of sugary and savory foods. Meanwhile a Georgia Tech College of Computing Ph.D. candidate has shown that playing health-related video games on a mobile device can help adults learn to live more healthfully by making smart diet choices. The finding is published in the paper, "Let's Play! Mobile Health Games for Adults," recently presented at Ubicomp 2010 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Diabetes hospitalizations rise dramatically for young women
A study published in Journal of Women's Health shows a rapid increase in the number of hospitalizations due to diabetes for young adults – particularly young women.
Melanoma drug shrinks brain metastases in phase I/II study
A new drug being developed to treat potentially deadly melanoma skin cancers has shown a promising ability to shrink secondary tumors, known as metastases, in the brain in patients with advanced forms of the disease, Australian researchers report.
Pediatric hospitalizations for ATV-related injuries more than double
All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) are associated with a significant and increasing number of hospitalizations for children in the U.S., according to a new report by the Center for Injury Research and Policy at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Over a nine- year period (1997-2006) hospitalizations for ATV injuries increased 150 percent among youth younger than 18 years, with important demographic variations.
Researchers find children's health insurance coverage varies widely
Children's health insurance coverage still varies significantly at both the state and national levels, according to researchers at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health (SPH). In particular, researchers found gaps in coverage that vary across states by age, race/ethnicity and income.
A picture worth a thousand words: New research links visual cues to male sexual memory
A new study published in Applied Cognitive Psychology finds that college-aged men are very likely to remember a woman's initial sexual interest (attraction or rejection), especially when the woman in question is thought to be attractive, is dressed more provocatively, and expresses positive sexual interest.
Researchers propose new way to classify personality disorders
Research led by a Michigan State University psychologist is playing a key role in the effort to change the way mental health clinicians classify personality disorders.
How immune response in pregnancy may lead to brain dysfunction in offspring
A pregnant woman's immune response to viral infections may induce subtle neurological changes in the unborn child that can lead to an increased risk for neurodevelopmental disorders including schizophrenia and autism. Research published in the online journal mBio provides new insights into how this may happen and suggests potential strategies for reducing this risk.
Nurses critical in assuring health needs of LGBTIQ youth
Five American teenagers, all bullied because they were gay, have committed suicide over the past few weeks. The deaths have caused a media storm and raised a critical question: Did the social or healthcare system fail these adolescents? "Absolutely," says Concordia University Professor Deborah Dysart-Gale. "Bullying and such resulting suicides are avoidable. Healthcare workers have tools that can help queer teens – no one needs to die because of their sexual orientation."
Researchers uncover Achilles' heel in aggressive breast tumors
In an unexpected twist, Fox Chase Cancer Center researchers find that the loss of a single protein, Nedd9, initially slows cancer formation but then makes the tumors that do arise more aggressive. The good news, though, is that the lack of Nedd9 also makes the aggressive tumors more sensitive to a class of drugs that are already used in the clinic.
Predictive health shows promise for changing U.S. health care delivery
(PhysOrg.com) -- Results of a study reported today show promise for changing the way U.S. health care may one day be delivered. This new way of delivering health care would focus on predicting health as opposed to waiting for disease to begin.
Genetic defect found to cause severe epilepsy and mental retardation
A research team at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and Soroka University Medical Center in Beer-Sheva, Israel has detected a genetic mutation resulting in a progressive disease of severe mental retardation and epilepsy beginning at infancy. The research was just published in the American Journal of Human Genetics.
Pfizer will buy King Pharmaceuticals for $3.6B
(AP) -- Pfizer Inc. said Tuesday it will buy a company specializing in pain drugs in a $3.6 billion deal meant to shore up the portfolio of the world's largest drug company.
Brain imaging identifies differences in childhood bipolar disorder, ADHD
Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago are the first to use brain imaging to examine the effects of emotion on working memory function in children with pediatric bipolar disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Consuming vegetables linked to decreased breast cancer risk in African-American women
Investigators from the Slone Epidemiology Center at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have reported that African American women who consume more vegetables are less likely to develop estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer than women with low vegetable intake. The study results, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, were based on data from the Black Women's Health Study (BWHS), a large follow-up study of 59,000 African American women from across the U.S. conducted by investigators at the Slone Epidemiology Center since 1995.
Diabetes gene linked to degeneration of enzyme involved in Alzheimer's disease onset and progression
Mount Sinai School of Medicine researchers have found that a gene associated with the onset of Type 2 diabetes also is found at lower-than-normal levels in people with Alzheimer's disease. The research, led by Giulio Maria Pasinetti, MD, PhD, The Saunder Family Professor in Neurology, and Professor of Psychiatry and Geriatrics and Adult Development at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, was published this month in Aging Cell.
New studies examine links between XMRV and human disease
Xenotropic murine leukemia virus–related virus (XMRV) has been the subject of many studies since its discovery in 2006, but conflicting reports have created an unclear picture of XMRV's role in human disease. In three recent studies published in the November 15 issue of The Journal of Infectious Diseases, now available online, the evidence supports a possible link between XMRV and prostate cancer but not other links involving chronic fatigue syndrome, HIV infection, or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.
Transfusion rates vary extremely in cardiac bypass surgery
Transfusion rates for blood products used in a common heart surgery range from no patients to nearly all patients, and vary by hospital, according to findings from a group of researchers from Duke University Medical Center. The study, which looked at data from 102,470 patients in 798 hospitals, examined the variation in transfusion rates for red blood cells (RBCs), plasma and platelets, but the team didn't reach conclusions about how well patients fared if they did or didn't get a transfusion.
No quick fix for peripheral artery disease -- repeat hospitalizations
Even after initial procedures to clear blockages in leg arteries, hospitalizations and associated costs in patients with peripheral artery disease increase as the condition progresses, according to research reported in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, an American Heart Association journal.
Prenatal treatment of congenital toxoplasmosis could reduce the risk of brain damage
Prenatal treatment of congenital toxoplasmosis with antibiotics might substantially reduce the proportion of infected fetuses that develop serious neurological sequelae (brain damage, epilepsy, deafness, blindness, or developmental problems) or die, and could be particularly effective in fetuses whose mothers acquired Toxoplasma gondii, the parasite that causes toxoplasmosis, during the first third of pregnancy. These are the findings of an observational study by Ruth Gilbert from the UCL Institute of Child Health, London, UK, and colleagues and published in this week's PLoS Medicine.
Imaging study shows brain responds more to close friends
People's brains are more responsive to friends than to strangers, even if the stranger has more in common, according to a study in the Oct. 13 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience. Researchers examined a brain region known to be involved in processing social information, and the results suggest that social alliances outweigh shared interests.
Hi-res detector used by researchers to map neural circuits of the retina
(PhysOrg.com) -- Using a sophisticated neural recording system developed by physicists at UC Santa Cruz, researchers were able to trace for the first time the neural circuitry that connects individual photoreceptors with retinal ganglion cells, the neurons that carry visual signals from the eye to the brain.
Follow-up study supports the long-term benefits of transcranial magnetic stimulation for depression
In a study to determine the durability and long-term effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), psychiatric researchers at Rush University Medical Center have found the non-invasive, non-drug therapy to be an effective, long-term treatment for major depression. Results of the study were published in the October 2010 issue of Brain Stimulation.
Early research reveals new clues to origin of diabetes
University of Michigan scientists have identified events inside insulin-producing pancreatic cells that set the stage for a neonatal form of non-autoimmune type 1 diabetes, and may play a role in type 2 diabetes as well. The results point to a potential target for drugs to protect normally functioning proteins essential for producing insulin.
Selective strategy could lead to new approaches against schizophrenia
A new class of compounds identified by researchers at Emory University School of Medicine could be developed into drugs for the treatment of schizophrenia. The compounds enhance signaling by molecules in the brain called NMDA receptors, which scientists believe are functioning at low levels in people with schizophrenia.
Project will map googols of brain circuits
The human brain is among the most complex structures in the universe -- and researchers will try to map it in just five years.
Scientists discover how dengue virus infects cells
(PhysOrg.com) -- National Institutes of Health researchers have discovered a key step in how the dengue virus infects a cell. The discovery one day may lead to new drugs to prevent or treat the infection.
Looking back key to moving forward
Despite modest economic gains, gloomy unemployment numbers and low workplace morale still loom large within corporate America. Whether or not companies can capitalize on the momentum of this fragile financial revitalization is dependent on more than enhancing consumer confidence or introducing new products to the marketplace -- it falls largely on employees working for organizations and their level of commitment to corporate success. Researchers from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley have discovered that building a more committed workforce can be as simple as asking employees to reflect on their company's history.
Addicts helped by implanted devices: study
Persons addicted to heroin or prescription pain killers can get help kicking their habit by using an implanted device under the skin that delivers small doses of medication, researchers reported Tuesday.
Promising drug candidate reverses age-related memory loss in mice
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh today report a new experimental compound that can improve memory and cognitive function in ageing mice. The compound is being investigated with a view to developing a drug that could slow the natural decline in memory associated with ageing.
Living under a flight path increases heart attack risk
(PhysOrg.com) -- Research in Switzerland suggests the risk of dying from a heart attack is greater for people exposed to the noise of aircraft flying overhead. The study included data on 4.6 million adults in Switzerland between 2000 and 2005, and found the effect was greater for people living under a flight path for long periods and for those exposed to high levels of aircraft noise.
Baby born from embryo frozen almost 20 years ago
(PhysOrg.com) -- A healthy baby has been born from an embryo that was kept frozen for nearly 20 years, smashing the previous record of 13 years. The new baby is a biological sibling of a child born to the embryo donor couple about 20 years ago.
Biology news
Ocean acidification poses little threat to whales' hearing: study
Contrary to some previous, highly publicized, reports, ocean acidification is not likely to worsen the hearing of whales and other animals, according to a Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) scientist who studies sound propagation in the ocean.
Benefits of planting winter canola examined
Winter canola might soon be the crop of choice for Pacific Northwest farmers, thanks to research by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists and their partners. The multitasking annual plant can be used to control weeds, supplement animal feed, produce biodiesel--and spark a new revenue stream for the Colville Confederated Tribes.
Microscopic solutions to world's biggest problems
World class scientist professor Willy Verstraete will explain on Monday how he and his team are using bacteria to produce energy, degrade waste, clean water and kill viruses. Today we are faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges: from climate change to the need for renewable energy sources, the threat of new pandemics and a general demise in environmental quality. The role of microbes in each of these challenges is not well-known but is crucially important.
Landing lights for bumblebees
Gardeners could help maintain bumblebee populations by growing plants with red flowers or flowers with stripes along the veins, according to field observations of the common snapdragon, Antirrhinum majus, at the John Innes Centre in the UK.
Voracious comb jellyfish 'invisible' to prey
Despite its primitive structure, the North American comb jellyfish can sneak up on its prey like a high-tech stealth submarine, making it a successful predator. Researchers, including one from the University of Gothenburg, have now been able to show how the jellyfish makes itself hydrodynamically 'invisible'.
Scientists pinpoint gene linked to drug resistance in malaria
Scientists have shed light on how malaria is able to resist treatment with a leading drug.
Footage 'shows land clearing threat to Sumatran tigers'
New infra-red footage released Tuesday captures a rare tiger roaming in protected forests on Indonesia's Sumatra island, which conservationists alleged to have been illegally cleared.
Genomic comparison of ocean microbes reveals East-West divide in populations
Much as an anthropologist can study populations of people to learn about their physical attributes, their environs and social structures, some marine microbiologists read the genome of microbes to glean information about the microbes themselves, their environments and lifestyles.
New carnivorous mammal discovered in Madagascar - first in 24 years
(PhysOrg.com) -- A new species of small carnivore, known as Durrell’s vontsira (Salanoia durrelli) has been identified by researchers from the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, the Natural History Museum, London, Nature Heritage, Jersey, and Conservation International (CI). The small, cat-sized, speckled brown carnivore from the marshes of the Lac Alaotra wetlands in central eastern Madagascar weighs just over half a kilogramme and belongs to a family of carnivores only known from Madagascar. It is likely to be one of the most threatened carnivores in the world. The findings are outlined in the latest issue of the taxonomic journal Systematics and Biodiversity.
Cellular traffic: Modeling shows that factors beyond crowding affect how molecules interact within cells
(PhysOrg.com) -- Using large-scale computer simulations, researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have identified the most important factors affecting how molecules move through the crowded environment inside living cells. The findings suggest that perturbations caused by hydrodynamic interactions – similar to what happens when the wake from a large boat affects smaller boats on a lake – may be the most important factor in this intracellular diffusion.
Whale poop pumps up ocean health
Whale feces -- should you be forced to consider such matters -- probably conjure images of, well, whale-scale hunks of crud, heavy lumps that sink to the bottom. But most whales actually deposit waste that floats at the surface of the ocean, "very liquidy, a flocculent plume," says University of Vermont whale biologist, Joe Roman.
Microorganisms offer lessons for gamblers and the rest of us
When it comes to gambling, many people rely on game theory, a branch of applied mathematics that attempts to measure the choices of others to inform their own decisions. It's used in economics, politics, medicine -- and, of course, Las Vegas. But recent findings from a Tel Aviv University researcher suggest that we may put ourselves on the winning side if we look to bacteria instead.
Tuberculosis protects itself against toxic agents sent to destroy it
(PhysOrg.com) -- Tuberculosis fights off the toxic agents, acidity and oxidants, that our immune system sends to destroy it, which is why the maddeningly drug-resistant bacterium can survive in harsh conditions in our bodies for essentially as long as its human host lives, new research shows.
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